North Carolina’s HB2 to be repealed in special legislative session

North Carolina’s House Bill 2, the state’s sweeping anti-LGBT measure, is poised to be repealed on Tuesday (20 December).

The state’s General Assembly will convene in a special session to kill the controversial law that has badly damaged the state’s reputation and hurt its economy.

The scheduled vote is a direct result of the Charlotte City Council surprise decision today to repeal its LGBT protection ordinance that led quick retaliation and passage of the statewide law.

‘Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore assured me that as a result of Charlotte’s vote, a special session will be called for Tuesday to repeal HB 2 in full,’ North Carolina’s Governor-Elect Roy Moore said in a statement.

‘I hope they will keep their word to me and with the help of Democrats in the legislature, HB2 will be repealed in full.’

Cooper added: ‘Full repeal will help to bring jobs, sports and entertainment events back and will provide the opportunity for strong LGBT protections in our state.’

Cooper, currently the state’s attorney general, defeated incumbent Governor Pat McCrory who finally conceded the close race on 5 December.

McCory’s defeat is largely being blamed on his steadfast defense of HB2, a so-called bathroom bill aimed at transgender people.

The law forces transgender people to use a bathroom matching their gender at birth and strips cities of the right to pass anti-discrimination ordinances.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said the symbolic repeal of the city’s ordinance ‘should in no way be viewed as a compromise of our principles or commitment to non-discrimination.’

McCrory’s office has confirmed this week’s special session.

HB2 has cost North Carolina millions of dollars. The NBA is among the sports leagues to move events out of the state and big name musical acts such as Bruce Springsteen canceled concerts.